Can I Really Change?

In yesterday’s post, I challenged myself–and you–to pray for life change in society, in those closest to us, but especially in ourselves.

How does life change occur? What can I do to help it take place?

First, resolve to change. While God brings change, we must want to see a difference in our lives. This usually involves repentance. Repentance is your declaration to God that your behavior displeases Him and that you are renouncing that behavior.

Many people don’t want to repent because they are afraid they can’t follow through. Repentance is not about perfection; it is about agreeing with God about your actions. It is about grieving over your behavior as God grieves.

Second, pray for change. Ask God to bring change in your life.

As I understand Scripture, prayer must be fervent and it must be in faith. Pray believing. Tell God that you trust Him to do for you what you can’t do for yourself.

Pray positively. For example, instead of asking that you not be impatient, ask Him to help you be patient.

Third, begin acting according to your prayers. 

This is who I am. I am new in Christ. When Christ died, I died. The old man is dead; the new man is alive.

I need to live as I am.

C.S. Lewis stated this truth: “Very often the only way to get a quality is to start behaving as if you had it already.” Therefore, pray positively and act positively. Take your need and live according to how you want to live.

Some people divide the day into segments. They pray and resolve to live before God for the morning. Some even break the day into hours or even 15 minute segments.

Finally, refuse to let your mind go to those places it should not be. Our transformation comes by the renewing of our minds. Determine to renew your mind. Resolve to “let the meditation of your heart” be pleasing to God.

If the Bible says nothing else, it tells us that life change is possible. When we depend on God, we have what we need to live differently.

If you find this helpful, please share with others as well as subscribing to receive my daily look at life and Scripture.

 

 

Share this post

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email

3 Responses

  1. Why I’m trying not to change from the example given to me by my Dad, the following is a reprint of a letter sent (in reply) this morning regarding a picture sent to me alleging the artist also was from Covington.

    “Interesting, I was driving when I received your message, so I was brief.  However, since we know (Chris Knows) many of the artists in the area, I looked at the picture to find a name.  All I found was Stewart Seman/Hinsdale, IL.  Perhaps there is something I am missing or not understanding about the artist being from Covington.  All I see about the artist is that he attended university in Dayton, Ohio and lives in Hinsdale.

    The news just said that it hasn’t been this cold in areas around here since 1959.  That brought back memories of working in the hardware cutting and threading pipe till my hands bled.  Dad didn’t get much sleep.  He helped many people figure out how to make do with what they had.  Many people just had a faucet where the city water supply came out of the ground.  When no one had anymore pipe, he’d salvage existing plumbing after the broken pipe and put something together so they could get by until the area was resupplied.

    As usual in his life.  People just showed their appreciation with a “thank you!”, or an “I’ll never forget you!”  I remember one man, Ed Mason, who came to visit Dad at East Jefferson Hospital who said, “I just wanted you to know Freddy, I haven’t forgot how you helped me.”  One man, a mason: the first year of Saint Patrick’s Parade (which has been paraded for all of its 43 years in some fashion by JPM) after Dad’s passing, Ed Mason drove the Dad’s Model ’T’ in the parade, by my authority and coaching.  (Most people have a problem with three peddles for the transmission control.)  Since most of the people Dad helped were elderly or were unable to help themselves,  it is understandable he helped without expecting anything in return.   Mother didn’t like that, but she found a way to respect his actions and always put on a good face.  Scripture and there has some writing about that kind of Giving. You may find Rambam’s eight step ladder of giving of interest.  I will help you with this insight, Rambam and Maimonides are one in the same.”

    Blessings

  2. I recently heard a pastor say that “our self portrait helps determine our self confidence.” As a young person I determined that I didn’t want to be a product of the negative examples that were close to me. I chose another path. Just to say, it really works.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *